New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-01
PRICE THREE CENTS.
DEATH RATHER THAN AIMS.
AN AGED COUPLE POISON THEMsEl.v YES.
HE WAS ONCE HEIDELBERG PROFESsOR-THEY
WOULD NOT GO TO THE POoRHoUsE-
LIFE or MANY DIsAPPOINr-

| LIFE or MANY DIsAPPoINT-
| MENrs AND TRIALS.
murder and suicide, or double suicide ID
| has not been determined which, was enacted i'm
| Union Hill yesterday afternoon and created ~
prOfOuid sensation. Charles ;. Sicdhorf aga
ninety-on has been resident of that town Tor
thirytive years. lie and his wife, who was
ninetytwo years old. lived happily together for
many years until misfortune overlook them.
Siedhof was usually tyled professor by his
acquantances and friends on account OF his
scholarly attainments. lie had been a professor
In the Heidelberg University in Germany. was an
accomplished llnguist, ana well vcrsed in
chemistry.
About fifteen years ago Sicdhoif orcncd a
boarding school in Union Hill and met with great
success. lie made considerable money, but srcnt
most Of 1t in making chemical experiments and
trying to perfect invention OF his own for
cooking. Finally he devoted so much attention
to his invention that he neglected his school and
the number Of the pupils BEGAN to fall away until
he had not sufficient number left to pay expenses.
In the meantime, however, his invention was
completed and visions of great wealth floaed
constantly before his eyes. lie was doomed To
grievous Disappointment and realized nothing from
his labor Of years. lie asserted that lac was
deiraudcd by man whom he took into partner
ship, but IT is said on the other hand that his
invention proved to be worthless From that
time on Siedhor was on the down giadc.
Nine years ago he went to live in two small
apartments at No. 2l LIbeTy-sr. There hc earned
q meagre subsistence by translating books. doing
occasional work for newspapers and magazine, and
delivering lectures on chemistry and elect. i,ity.
Df late years he has been doing little of this
work, and many times he and hi, wife would havo
been on the verge Of staIN alton were it not for
the liberality of William Peters, the brewer, who
provided them with the nccesssries Of life. Mrs.
Hoffman, the owner Of the house, did not ask for
any rent and in that way the Old couple managed
to struggle along. Recently they became negligent
about keeping their apartments clean and
plant was made by the nei.hb)rs. II was decided
that the almshOuse was the best place for the old
couple, and week ago Monday PoormaStcr
Armbruster told them to get ready 10 20 there.
Sledhorf asked for one week and it was granted.
About p m. yesterday the pOprmastcr and
Policeman knight went TO the house 10 remove
them. SiedhOrf asked for an hours grace and il
was granted At the end of the hour the poor
master and policeman returned and found the
aged couple lying side by side on the floor. Mrs,
Sedhorf was dead and her husband was in tho
throes OF death City Physician Schem was
summoned, but Sicdhorf died before his arrival,
Both had died from II dose of cyanide of potassium
most deadly poison, 1t is not known whether
Nrs. Sicdhorf took the poison voluntarily
whether her husband forced her to take il, From
the subjoined letters which found on a small
table it would seem to have been Il voluntary act
on her part The letters were written continuous
" on one sheet of paper and follows:
MONDAY MoEvxG 4 O'Clock
ton III" iet that NV Ssah warrant had been signed c,RaSt
g 9y Tn MO as wy 2 RqSf @ @ wf m m eys OF f
the most deadly poison in existence ,....
trescherous malicious and revengenl lie viii shrink
from committing any STme' Lately he undermined Nr
factor From tho Ist Of Nav last he treated
mention but ny 'e drew i, close d w.hSs
man that have mot in my oe No. May he ini iorriyc
$; n for his @ ne coidS5S t9SyS h m p ,5rye ry I'm
FOR transatng IN tho English angulse Mohr. cal book
end Could have been placed IN position what
needed could easily have been ,sye have enei ~ enough
them. What required was tranquility ! lavc not ionui
me IN the least could do al tn eii so
May God have mercy on me CHAR.te NliphuLf.
IL IS NY ardent wish ths; my lie books grammar d,ton
u'aIia college. NewYork Ci,y T.@ have pecaai,ry
f,'u' fro% me that o,ol.r vii derive Tie greatest
are % SaSlts s .%toSrapa Why va, t', to ny sraSs
Il & no a9 c mne & si' o ai ot v sgI nq ' m S r. me
have had to 'ulrr nom ie most .rge 'n,al ~ NA9Snj
not hep ioTsiye hin Tor he dd nat AnS~ ~ia' he di
iba nolc, ense Of the word Wh.hcr ms Door wf vii
drink the poison know not dssuadel nor Mr. ~co has
May cod bless her. CH'hLts 'ifuhDm.
The library which Siedhorf speaks of - modestly
is more valuable tran he says II Is, and II i tho
only valuable thing in the house. The bodie. wrro
removed 10 Coroner GsChw Inds undertaking c'iaO-
ishmeut and County Pm, stefan Converse was IN
formed; 1t IS not probable that an mqaes' viii 10
ordered.